Happiness Happens…
Posted by lindamartinandersen on August 11, 2013
“Happiness Happens…” by Linda Martin Andersen
“A Writer’s Playground”–A place to find wordplay, writing, and monthly calendar activities for kids and those young at heart.
August is Happiness Happens Month
Do you believe that happiness happens… or that you make happiness happen…or both? Think on it while you read a few famous quotes about happiness.
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It is not how much we have, but how much we enjoy, that makes happiness.” Charles Spurgean
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“It isn’t what you have, or who you are, or where you are, or what you are doing that makes you happy or unhappy. It is what you think about.” Dale Carnegie
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The journey is what brings us happiness…not the destination Dan Millman
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“Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions.” Dalai Lama
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“Most folks are as happy as they make up their minds to be.” Abraham Lincoln
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“Be happy with what you have and are, be generous with both, and you won’t have to hunt for happiness.” William E. Gladstone
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“For every minute you are angry you lose sixty seconds of happiness.” Ralph Waldo Emerson
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“Happiness is a warm puppy.” Charles M. Schultz
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“It’s been my experience that you can nearly always enjoy things if you make up your mind firmly that you will.” L.M. Montgomery–Anne of Green Gables
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“Success is getting what you want, happiness is wanting what you get.” W.P. Kinsella
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“Whoever is happy will make others happy.” Anne Frank–The Diary of a Young Girl
Articles about Happiness:
Anna A. Simpkinson “August is Happiness Happens Month.” http://www.guideposts.org/norman-vincent-peale/august-happiness-happens-month-0
Marc and Angel Hack LIfe “10 Actions That Always Bring Happiness.” http://www.marcandangel.com/2012/08/31/10-actions-that-always-bring-happiness/
“Four Ways to Bring Happiness Into Your Life With the Law of Attraction” August 11, 2010. https://www.facebook.com/notes/mind-movies/4-ways-to-bring-happiness-into-your-life-with-the-law-of-attraction/150913458257885
Happier Than Commercials: GEICO Insurance Comapnay”How happy are folks…?”
“Happier than…”
Here are two of many GEICO commercials that are “selling” happiness in a humorous way:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3btVEGC00Ns&list=PL3A31C28AB4727F75&index=9
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWBhP0EQ1lA&list=PL3A31C28AB4727F75
Posters Promote Happiness–Here’s one:
7 Steps-to-Happiness http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-5186/7-Steps-to-Happiness.html (Poster)
Sing About Happiness:
“If You’re Happy and You Know It”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qPFhRwsLuwk
What do you say happiness is? Happiness Happens…Agree or Disagree? Why?
Readers, please leave a question or a comment. And be sure to visit “A Writer’s Playground” again soon. Bring a friend.
Copyright © 2013 Linda Martin Andersen
A Writer's Playground 
teresafannin said
No matter how you chop it, serve it, dice it, id it, happiness is a state of mind, and limited only by where your mind can take you. Nice blog posting, Linda!
lindamartinandersen said
Teresa,
I’m honored to have you comment! I know how busy you must be. Okay group, do you agree with Teresa? Here’s your chance to voice your opinion.
Thanks for the compliment on my post. I appreciate it very much.
Take care, great leader. I wish you much happiness!
Joan Y. Edwards said
Dear Linda,
This one spoke loud and clear. “For every minute you are angry you lose sixty seconds of happiness.” Ralph Waldo Emerson. Our thoughts lead us to our emotions. Happy thoughts…happy emotions. When we have 60,000 thoughts a day, lingering on the happy thoughts and positive thoughts can add minutes to our lives.
Thanks for sharing.
It’s a great day because you’re in it.
Joan Y. Edwards
lindamartinandersen said
Joan,
I know you’ve done a lot of studying on this topic. I appreciate your sharing research data such as the statement about having 60,000 thoughts a day. Impressive! Even if minutes aren’t added to our lives due to positive thoughts, the moments we have are certainly happier ones. I’m all for that. You’re right, Ralph Waldo Emerson’s quote did speak loud and clear. I’m glad it caught your attention. Thanks for your faithful following.
Linda Vigen Phillips said
Linda, I enjoyed being reminded of the many ways to look at happiness. I think it definitely doesn’t happen to us. We make it happen by a combination of faith, an attitude of gratitude, and perseverance ( and sometimes we have to work at it!)
lindamartinandersen said
Linda,
I enjoyed your comments. Doesn’t it seem rather ironic that you’d have to work at happiness? Thanks for adding your thoughts on this topic. Always great to have you drop in the neighborhood! I’m looking forward to reading about how your MG main character finds happiness in her circumstances. At least I hope she does!
Carol Federlin Baldwin said
Did you know that the word Blessed can also be translated “Happy”? As in the beatitudes. Your post reminded me of that.
lindamartinandersen said
Carol,
What a wonderful addition to this conversation. Thanks for reminding me that Blessed can be translated “Happy.” The beatitudes are full of lessons about how to live life. Your comments take my thoughts in a whole different direction. I love it. I also appreciate your being a dependable follower.
Pat said
Thanks Linda! You’ve provided another discussion topic for my first meeting with students! I loved the 10 Actions that Bring Happiness. I’m hoping it sets a positive tone with my students in the media center. Keep up the good work!
lindamartinandersen said
Pat,
How’s my favorite librarian? It’s wonderful to hear that the “10 Actions That Bring Happiness” article will be incorporated in your welcome back to school sessions. This is music to my ears. My hope is that topics and activities blogged about here reach children. Thanks so much for assuring me that they do. I hope this school year will be one of your best. And thanks for commenting.
Blog readers, if you’d like to learn more about Pat and her work as an elementary school media specialist/librarian, check here:
https://lindamartinandersen.wordpress.com/2013/04/09/books-reading-libraries-still-awesome-by-pat-strobel-a-national-board-certified-school-librarian/
Susan Williams said
I loved the You Tube jingle “If You’re Happy and you Know it.” Made me laugh and feel a lot better!
lindamartinandersen said
Susan,
Sometimes all it takes to cheer us up is a little child-like play or silliness. I’m glad you enjoyed the song “If You’re Happy and You Know It.” Did it bring back pleasant childhood memories? Wanta share? I promise I won’t ask you to write a blog post about it. 😉
Thanks again for the review of Sonia Sotomayor’s book My Beloved World. Check out Susan’s review here:
https://lindamartinandersen.wordpress.com/2013/08/06/book-review-by-one-of-our-own-2/
Thanks for being a great blog follower and friend.
Jean Hall said
Happiness is a by-product. As we serve God and others happiness find us.
Jean
lindamartinandersen said
Jean,
So happiness is a by-product. Very interesting. Then, is it fair to say that we experience happiness due to the choices we make? I’m sorry to say that surely there are people who claim to be happy but they do not serve God. What would you say to them?
I hope you reply to my comments. You have me thinking!
lindamartinandersen said
I believe both are correct! Happiness comes from happenings in our life; however, we can also choose to be happy despite our circumstances and happenings. Joy – well, true joy comes from the heart and not related to the external – an internal emotion from your relationship with God.
My two cents…
Sharon
Sharon
lindamartinandersen said
Sharon,
I like your thoughts on this. I lean this way too. Thanks for giving me permission to post what you sent me personally. I hope you’ll drop back in again soon.
Gretchen Griffith said
Great discussion, Linda. My pursuit of happiness has been an evolution. I’ve learned to surround myself with positive people so that when I’m at those points where I can’t see the light, these very friends remind me it is still there. And when I’m super happy, they dance with me.
One more thing, my favorite commercial on tv right now is the hump day camel, as happy as a camel on hump day. Doesn’t take much to make me happy!
lindamartinandersen said
Hi Gretchen,
So good to have you visit and leave a comment.
I love your descripton of happiness as an evolution–one evolution most everyone can agree to. Positive people can certainly pull us out of a slump, can’t they? Yes, the happy dance is a favorite. I don’t know if you noticed but their is a link on this blog to the hump day camel. I like it too.
Stop in again soon!